Braintree police ask public's help to ID suspect in TV swindle

On Thursday, the Braintree Police Department posted security video images of a man who they say posed as a Sears employee on July 15. He took $3,200 from a Berkley man and didn't deliver what he claimed was an overstock unit of a Samsung 3D curved-screen TV.

BRAINTREE – Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man they say was involved in a July 15 TV scam outside South Shore Plaza.

Police have posted security-video images on Facebook and Twitter of a man who allegedly posed as a Sears employee and claimed he would sell an overstock unit of a 65-inch Samsung 3D curved-screen TV to a Berkley man. The would-be buyer paid $3,200 but didn’t get the TV.

Police Chief Russell Jenkins said the suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s with “noticeably bad teeth.”

Jenkins said anyone with information about the suspect or incident is urged to call detectives at 781-794-8685.

The bogus TV sale is a familiar, longtime scam. In the latest Sears swindle, the unidentified victim told police that he was told of the supposed deal by his own employer. Jenkins said the victim arranged to meet a friend of the man who claimed that he worked at Sears.

The victim said he met the friend – who he was told was named John – in the plaza parking lot near the Sears automotive department. He gave the friend the $3,200 and got a receipt. He told police he waited an hour for the man to return with the TV, then called police.

Lane Lambert may be reached at llambert@ledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @LLambert_Ledger.